gqr1c3boi

Happy Holidays everyone!

We had a big snow storm come through Oklahoma and I was one my way home from work when the LS got stuck in about 8 inches of snow w/ a sleet of layer underneath the snow. Tires were spinning all over and there were some clicking noises. No smoke from the spinning tires, just flying snow. It was also in "snow" mode.

Is there anything I should be concernced about in general or with the clicking noises while the tires were spinning?

Thanks!

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

was the traction control on?

JimsGX

It's normal. I hear that out of all my Lexus vehicles when the tires spin in the snow. It's the VSC kicking in trying to control the spin...

mcat

the clicking is the traction control.
put 2-3 tubes (70 lbs each) of sand in your trunk, that helps a lot.

cat

Thermactor

iTrader: (1)

Hmm, a less messy solution would be to keep the gas tank full at all times - fuel weighs almost nine pounds a gallon!

black_LS

These cars are useless in the snow without snow tires.

gqr1c3boi

I probably should have filled up before the storm hit, I was only at 1/4 tank.


PD, as far as I know, the traction control was on. I didn't know there was a way to turn it off?

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

did you try the big VSC button on the center console....

deanshark

A full tank is always good but the sand can also help you get unstuck. I was also wondering about the clicking b/c this is my first trac control vehicle. Mine only clicks in rev. Is that normal?

JimsGX

So what brand of snow tires are you running? I'm thinking of picking up an 05/06 LS430 but I'm concerned about being able to run it in the snow.

Jim

Amskeptic

I have always had good fun in the snow. The Lexus traction control system is too much of a nanny when you desperately need to build and conserve momentum to blast through plow berms and deep snow.
The Lexus both throttles back the engine and applies brakes even with your foot off the brake pedalto help you maintain traction. That is what the accumulator is up to when you start the engine. If your brake fluid reservoir is too full, you can get cavitation in the little pump that fills the accumulator and that sets off the TRAC light when the accumulator does not maintain pressure. The code will tell you there is a leak in the accumulator when it is just air. It may take days to eradicate the air and get the TRAC light to go off.

I currently have Michelin X-Ice tires while up here in the northern New York area . . . looking forward to a good snow event so I can go slalom.
Colin

valex

I live in the Rockies and dedicated snow tires are a must here. I use stock 16"wheels on my 99LS400 with Dunlop Wintersport M3 snow tires in the winter and 2005LS430 wheels for summer.
Extra weight in the trunk helps. The other day I couldn`t get out of my friend`s steep driveway- going uphill snow-packed and icy driveway(next time I am packing at the top of the driveway). I tried both with and without VSC and ended up calling 3 friends from the house and asking them to sit in the rear seat. That extra 500+ lbs on the rear axle and VSC OFF helped me get uphill.
As for clicking sound, I hear it daily when driving my LS in the winter.